Trace-carrier.



W. F. HALLEY.

TRACE CARRIER.

APPLICATION HLED JUNE 30. I915.

Patent-ed J an. 11, 1916.

1 O t M Q u m a GUM/mug THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0,, WASHINGTQN, D. c.

UNIT $1 WILLIAM F. HALLEY, OF QUINN, SOUTH DAKOTA.

TRACE-CARRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 11, 1916.

Application filed June 30, 1915. Serial No. 37,332.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVlLLIAM F. HALLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Quinn, in the county of Pennington an State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trace- Carriers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a new and improved trace carrier that may be employed in any desired position on the harness, the purpose thereof being to receive the cockeye at the end of the traces and support the latter when they are in an inoperative position; and the principal and most important object of my invention is to provide adevice of this character which includes means for facilitating the attachment of the device, at any suitable position on the harness, means to yieldably retain the cockeyes in place and means to facilitate the attachment and the removal of the respective cockeyes.

Another object of this invention is to pro vide a device of the above nature which includes a retaining member which coacts with a pair of retaining studs, so as to prevent the accidental removal or displacement of the cockeyes, and a spring for yieldingly supporting said retaining member and to facilitate its quick and easy operation.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a retaining member as above set forth which is so arranged as to completely protect the adjacent spring, so as to eliminate entrance of moisture and consequently greatly increase the longevity thereof.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type in question which consists of but a few simple parts and which, it is believed, may be manufactured at a comparatively low cost.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent during the continuance of the following description.

The above and other objects which will become apparent are accomplished by such means as are shown in their preferred form in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like characters designate like parts throughout the several views; Figure 1 is a plan substantially showing the retaining cover in an operative position. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1. Figure 3 is a plan view of my invention showing the retaining member in an inoperative position. Fig. 4: is a transverse sectional view taken on line'4.l of Fig. 3, and illustrating a cockeye in place in connection with one of the retaining studs.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates the body portion or base plate of my improved device which, as is shown, is formed disk shaped. The base plate ,10 carries an upstanding core 11 which is open at its lower end, and which carries a plate 12 at its upper end, the purpose of this core being presently set forth. The base plate 10 also carries a pair of oppositely arranged segmental side portions 13 which in turn are provided with inwardly projecting cover members 1%. Upon reference to Fig. 3 it will be noted that the inner edges of the cover member let are spaced some distance apart. However I have provided means for completing the cover of the device which will be presently described. The said base plate 10 is further provided with a pair of upstanding retaining studs 15 which are arranged in alinement with the core 11 and spaced from the respective terminals of the side portions 13. The studs 15 serve to receive the cockeyes which are carried on the respective trace members as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. An improved retaining plate 16 is now provided which carries a. depending pin 17, the latter projecting downwardly through the plate 12 into the core 11 and carrying a removable fastening member 18. For the purpose of retaining the plate 16 in engagement with the respective top portions 1 1 and the upper ends of the studs 15, a coil spring19 is arranged in the core 11 between the plate 12 and the member 18. \Vhen the retaining view of my invention plate-16 is in its normal operative position the same lies snugly on the upper ends of the studs 15 while its upper face assumes a position which is flush with the upper face of the cover portions 1 1. However as the plate 16 projects slightly beyond the outer edge of the cover portions 14 and is slightly longer than the diameter of the base plate 10, the same may be elevated to a certain extent and moved a half-turn to assume the position shown in Fig. 3 and thus allow access to the retaining studs 15. When the plate 16 is in this latter position, the cockeye such as shown at 20 may be easily and quickly arranged in position over either of the studs 15. The fact that the plate 16 pro jects slightly beyond the outer edges of the cover portion 14:, greatly facilitates its manipulation by reason of the fact that the operator may grip the same conveniently. The base plate 10 also carries means for facilitating its attachment to certain portions of the harness. This means consists of a strand of heavy wire which is arranged about the perimetal edge of the said plate and bent to form a plurality of strap engaging portions 21.

While I am not limited to any certain form of means for securing the strand of wire 22 in place, it is pointed out the same may be soldered thereto and that this form has proven very eflicient in practical operation.

As pointed out above the plate 16 is so arranged as to completely protect the coil spring 19 and to prevent the entrance of extraneous matter which would undoubtedly tend to cause the rapid deterioration thereof. Thus by this simple and compact structure the longevity of the spring is materially increased and therefore it is believed that the same forms a very important feature of the present invention, It will also be noted that the core 11 is openat its lower end in order to permit easy operation of the fastening member 18 and the correct placing of the coil spring 19 and therefore providing for the quick assembling of the several parts.

From the foregoing it is believed that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily understood and therefore further detailed description is deemed unnecessary.

In reducing my invention to practice I find that the form referred to herein as the most practical and preferred embodiment is the most efficient, but realizing that certain conditions will necessarily vary in concurrence with the adoption of my device, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in the details of construction and in the proportion of parts may be re- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,

said core being open at its lower end andclosedat its upper end through the medium of a plate, a pair of segmental side portions carried by said base plate, cover portions carried by said side portions, a pair of retaining studs fixed to said base plate and arranged in alinement with said core, a

retaining plate, a pin depending from said retaining plate and extending within said core, a fastening member carried on said pin within said core, and a coil spring interposedbetween said second mentioned plate and said fastening member, as and for the purpose set forth and described.

2. In a trace carrying device, a base plate having a plurality of strap engaging portions, an upstanding core formed on said base plate, the lower end of said core being open, a plate carried at the upper end of said core, a pair of retaining studs fixed to said base plate and alined with said core, a

pair of segmental side portions carried by said base plate, cover portions carried by said side portions, a retaining plate of greater length than the diameter of said base plate, said retaining resting on the upper ends of said studs, the upper face of said retaining plate being flush with the upper face of said cover portions, a pin depending from said retaining plate and projecting into said core, a member fixed on said pin and arranged within said core, and a coil spring arranged about said pin and interposed between said second mentioned plate and said member, as and for the purpose set forth and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM F. HALLE Y.

l'Vitnesses IV. IV. BALSH, W. L. BROWNSON.

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

plate normally W 

